Harvard’s student paper, The Harvard Crimson, has joined 43 other college newspapers in supporting a lawsuit that challenges the federal government’s actions against noncitizens over their political speech. The brief, filed on Wednesday, supports The Stanford Daily’s case against the Trump administration for allegedly violating the First Amendment by targeting noncitizens who expressed pro-Palestine views.
The Student Press Law Center (SPLC) filed the amicus brief, arguing that federal actions under the Immigration and Nationality Act discouraged international students from contributing to campus journalism. The brief stated that such actions created fear and limited free expression on university campuses.
“Student journalists — especially noncitizen students — report declining participation, self-censorship, and withdrawal from public discourse,” said SPLC lawyer Matthew S.L. Cate. “Each of these results inflict harm not only on individual students but also on the broader educational and democratic mission of the student press.”
What is the case about?
The Stanford Daily filed its lawsuit in August, claiming that the Trump administration’s immigration policies suppressed political expression by noncitizens. Represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), the paper named Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem as defendants.
The complaint said that noncitizen contributors requested their names, photos, or quotes be removed from stories due to fear of deportation or visa cancellation. Some writers also asked to take down earlier opinion pieces.
Impact on student journalism
The SPLC’s brief included examples from several universities, including the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina, where student papers received takedown requests for similar reasons. It also noted an increase in content removal requests sent to Harvard’s student paper this spring.
Harvard’s student paper president McKenna E. McKrell ’26 said, “Freedom of speech is vital to the paper’s work as a student newspaper. Our international staff members are essential contributors to this work, and deserve the very same speech protections their peers are afforded.”
Federal moves against international students
Earlier this year, the Trump administration revoked over 6,000 student visas, including those of 12 Harvard affiliates — later reinstated by the State Department. The Department of Homeland Security also sought to block Harvard from sponsoring new international students under its visa program, prompting the university to file a lawsuit that was upheld by a federal court.
Federal agencies also took individual actions against students for their pro-Palestine activism. Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts University graduate student Rumesya Ozturk were detained earlier this year after publishing or participating in pro-Palestine advocacy. Both have since been released but still face immigration proceedings.
The SPLC brief said these government actions created “a crisis of unprecedented scale” in campus journalism. International students, it said, stopped writing opinion columns or speaking on the record about political topics, narrowing the diversity of voices in student media.
“Current policies that drive international students away or compel them to self-censor have stripped campus media of the diverse voices necessary to provide the public with a full and accurate understanding of their communities,” Cate wrote.
The filing also cited disciplinary action by Columbia University’s Office of Institutional Equity against a student who authored an op-ed critical of Israel. Columbia’s Spectator was the only Ivy League student newspaper that did not sign the brief.
Government’s legal position
Federal lawyers argued that The Stanford Daily lacks standing to pursue the case, saying the paper’s claims rely on “speculative injuries to its staff or interviewees.” They also said that presidential authority over immigration should take precedence over First Amendment concerns.
The Stanford Daily has asked the court for a summary judgment, allowing a ruling without a full trial.
The Student Press Law Center (SPLC) filed the amicus brief, arguing that federal actions under the Immigration and Nationality Act discouraged international students from contributing to campus journalism. The brief stated that such actions created fear and limited free expression on university campuses.
“Student journalists — especially noncitizen students — report declining participation, self-censorship, and withdrawal from public discourse,” said SPLC lawyer Matthew S.L. Cate. “Each of these results inflict harm not only on individual students but also on the broader educational and democratic mission of the student press.”
What is the case about?
The Stanford Daily filed its lawsuit in August, claiming that the Trump administration’s immigration policies suppressed political expression by noncitizens. Represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), the paper named Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem as defendants.
The complaint said that noncitizen contributors requested their names, photos, or quotes be removed from stories due to fear of deportation or visa cancellation. Some writers also asked to take down earlier opinion pieces.
Impact on student journalism
The SPLC’s brief included examples from several universities, including the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina, where student papers received takedown requests for similar reasons. It also noted an increase in content removal requests sent to Harvard’s student paper this spring.
Harvard’s student paper president McKenna E. McKrell ’26 said, “Freedom of speech is vital to the paper’s work as a student newspaper. Our international staff members are essential contributors to this work, and deserve the very same speech protections their peers are afforded.”
Federal moves against international students
Earlier this year, the Trump administration revoked over 6,000 student visas, including those of 12 Harvard affiliates — later reinstated by the State Department. The Department of Homeland Security also sought to block Harvard from sponsoring new international students under its visa program, prompting the university to file a lawsuit that was upheld by a federal court.
Federal agencies also took individual actions against students for their pro-Palestine activism. Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts University graduate student Rumesya Ozturk were detained earlier this year after publishing or participating in pro-Palestine advocacy. Both have since been released but still face immigration proceedings.
The SPLC brief said these government actions created “a crisis of unprecedented scale” in campus journalism. International students, it said, stopped writing opinion columns or speaking on the record about political topics, narrowing the diversity of voices in student media.
“Current policies that drive international students away or compel them to self-censor have stripped campus media of the diverse voices necessary to provide the public with a full and accurate understanding of their communities,” Cate wrote.
The filing also cited disciplinary action by Columbia University’s Office of Institutional Equity against a student who authored an op-ed critical of Israel. Columbia’s Spectator was the only Ivy League student newspaper that did not sign the brief.
Government’s legal position
Federal lawyers argued that The Stanford Daily lacks standing to pursue the case, saying the paper’s claims rely on “speculative injuries to its staff or interviewees.” They also said that presidential authority over immigration should take precedence over First Amendment concerns.
The Stanford Daily has asked the court for a summary judgment, allowing a ruling without a full trial.
You may also like
'Justice for Zubeen': Rahul Gandhi pays tribute to singer; demands transparent investigation into his death
UAE's job market hits all-time high with 9.4 million workers and 1.9% unemployment rate
Robbers Break Into Gurugram Hotel; Rob Air India Crew Of Belongings
Kerala HC to watch Shane Nigam's 'Haal' amid censorship row over controversial scene
LeadSquared FY25 Net Loss Declines 45% YoY To INR 89 Cr
